Michael Charles Thomas (May 5, 1948 – October 14, 2019) was an American entomologist who co-authored the book series American Beetles. Born in Miami, Florida, Thomas graduated from the University of South Florida in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts, followed by a Master of Science degree in Entomology from the University of Florida in 1981. Thomas also received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. From 1986 to 1988, Thomas worked as a Taxonomic Entomologist for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.